Variable magnetic flux coin-sensing devices

ABSTRACT

An improvement is herein provided, in a coin-sorting apparatus wherein a coin is caused to move down a chute defined by an inclined runway and a pair of substantially parallel plates. The improvement comprises a magnet having a slide face physically and magnetically coupled to the magnet positioned in the chute so that a coin moving in the chute is in direct, sliding, face-toface contact therewith. The magnet includes a magnetic flux adjusting means including a casing of a non-magnetic, nonmagnetizable material, with the magnet and the magnetic flux adjusting means mounted in the casing, the magnet and the flux adjusting means being relatively slidably mounted with respect to each other. By adjusting the strength of the magnet by the magnetic flux adjusting means, two conditions are caused to prevail, namely firstly that the magnet will attract and hold all coins made of iron or steel or other ferromagnetic metals and those coins made of nickel or other paramagnetic metal having a smooth face; and secondly that the magnet will attract but merely retard the speed of movement of coins made of nickel or other paramagnetic metal and having an imprinted face.

United States Patent Hastie et al.

[ 1 June 27, 1972 [5 VARIABLE MAGNETIC FLUX COIN- SENSING DEVICESPrimary Examiner--Stanley H. Tollberg AnorneyMcCarthy, Depaoli, OBrien &Price [72] Inventors: Willard A. Hastie, Aylmer East, Quebec;

usti: Hustle, Ottawa, Ontario, both of 57 BSTR ana a An improvement isherein provided, in a coin-sorting api l Assigneei verifier?! p y Lima,Ottawaparatus wherein a coin is caused to move down a chutecmariotcanada defined by an inclined runway and a pair of substantially[22] Filed: Dem 8 1969 parallel plates. The improvement comprises amagnet having a slide face physically and magnetically coupled to themagnet [2| Appl No.: 883,131 positioned in the chute so that a coinmoving in the chute is in direct, sliding, face-to-face contacttherewith. The magnet includes a magnetic flux adjusting means includinga casing of a [30] Foreign Appnmuon Priority Dam non-magnetic,non-magnetizable material, with the magnet Dec. 6, 1968 Canada ..O37,067and the magnetic flux adjusting means mounted in the casing, the magnetand the flux adjusting means being relatively 52 us. Cl ..194 101slidably mounted with respw to each othery adjusting the [51 1 ML W607;3/02 strength of the magnet by the magnetic flux adjusting means, 58Field of Search ...194/99, l0] are Caused P namely firstly magnet willattract and hold all coins made of iron or steel or I 56) ReferencesChad other ferromagnetic metals and those coins made of nickel or otherparamagnetic metal having a smooth face; and secondly UNITED ST TESPATENTS that the magnet will attract but merely retard the speed ofmovement of coins made of nickel or other paramagnetic l,85 [,557 3/1932Warzbach et al 194/101 metal and having an imprinted face. 2,277,0183/l942 Patzer ct alr.... 194/101 2,528,690 ll/l950 Foushee ..l94/l0l 17Claims, 11 Drawing Figures L 222: 259 224A; 223mm): 225'; 'mmnm 236 22;;234

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VARIABLE MAGNETIC FLUX COIN-SENSING DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONl Field of the Invention This invention relates to coin-handlingdevices. It relates to attachments for existing coin-handling devices,to providing improvements in separating genuine coins from spuriouscoins or slugs, to coin-handling devices including such attachments andalso a coin-sorting device for segregating coins according to theirdenomination and also for segregating coins of the same denominationsaccording to their magnetizable characteristics which is dependent uponchemical composition of the coins.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is now known that slugs and undesiredcoins may be separated from desired coins by eddy-current testing of theslugs and coins. By these means, slugs and coins which have electricalresistivities and/or magnetic permeabilities that are appreciablydifferent from the electrical resistivity and/or magnetic permeabilityof desired coins are rejected. However, some commercially availablealloys have electrical resistivities and/or magnetic permeabilitieswhich are sufficiently close to the electrical resistivities and/ormagnetic perrneabilities of some of the desired coins to preventeddy-current testing of slugs made from those alloys from separatingthose slugs from those desired coins. As a result, slug rejectors whichwere in tended to accept certain desired coins and which were in tendedto reject all slugs and all other coins and which relied solely uponeddy-current testing have been known to accept some slugs which hadelectrical resistivities and/or magnetic permeabilities similar to theelectrical resistivity and/or magnetic permeability of the desiredcoins.

Accordingly, it was proposed in the prior art to improve the slugrejectors by using not only eddy-current testing of the coins and slugsbut also testing of the weight and of the thickness of the insertedcoins and slugs. The eddy-current testing enables the slug rejector toreject all slugs and coins which have electrical resistivities and/ormagnetic permeabilities that are appreciably different from theelectrical resistivities and/or magnetic permeabilities of desiredcoins, and the weight and thickness testing enables the slug rejector toreject all coins and slugs which have electrical resistivities and/ormagnetic permeabilities similar to the electrical resistivity and/ormagnetic permeability of the desired coins which are made from alloysthat are different from the alloy of which the desired coins are made.For example, if the desired coins are made from a silver alloy, slugsthat are made from a copper alloy which has electrical resistivitiesand/or magnetic permeabilities similar to the electrical resistivityand/or magnetic permeability of the desired coins would have specificgravities that are appreciably smaller than the specific gravity of thedesired coins. This means that if the slugs remain as thin as thedesired coins, the slugs would not pass the weight test; and it furthermeans that if the slugs are made thick enough to pass the weight test,the slugs would not pass the thickness test. However, if slugs are madefrom an alloy which has electrical resistivities and/or magneticpermeabilities similar to the electrical resistivity and/or magneticpermeability of the desired coins, but which also has a specific gravityappreciably higher than that of the desired coins, they may pass theweight test and also be accepted, since no commercial thickness testercurrently rejects solely on the basis of being too thin.

In summary, then, current three-coin chutes sort coins, firstly,according to their diameter and then evaluate them by several additionaltests, namely: (I) is the inserted coin underweight (too light)? (2) isthe inserted coin slightly under diameter (too small)? (3) is theinserted coin over diameter (too large)? (4) is the inserted coin toothick? (5) is the inserted coin a washer? (6) is the inserted coin (a)formed from a magnetizable or magnetic alloy, or (b) if not, does ithave approximately the correct electrical resistivity and/or magneticpermeability? However, recent changes in the composition of the realcoin alloys in Canadian coins have made the above-noted means fordistinguishing slugs from real coins, and for segregating coinsaccording to their denomination obsolete. Furthermore, the new realCanadian coinage alloys are so similar both in electrical resistivityproperties, in magnetic permeability properties, and in densitycharacteristics to currently available commercial alloys, that slugs canreadily be prepared which would meet the electrical resistivity and/ormagnetic permeability tests, the weight tests, and the thickness testsof conventional coin separators. Thus, with the advent of read Canadiancoinage made from alloys which exhibit paramagnetic properties, all coinchutes which differentiate between real coins and slugs solely by theuse of eddy-current testing have been rendered obsolete. In other words,test number 6 above cannot be carried out on the new Canadian coins madefrom alloys which exhibit paramagnetic properties, e.g., the newCanadian 10 coins (dimes") and the new Canadian 25 coins (quaners").

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I. Objects and Advantages of the Invention Oneof the basic objects of the present invention is to provide improvementsin the sensitivity of magnetic sensors in coin-handling devices.

A further principal object of the present invention is to provide amagnetic sensor of improved sensitivity with means to variously adjustthe sensitivity of the magnetic sensor.

An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a meansfor distinguishing between certain real coins and slugs which does notrely exclusively on the use of eddy-current testing.

An object of another aspect of the present invention is the provision ofa coin separator device which may separate genuine coins made ofparamagnetic material from slugs made of paramagnetic material.

It is also an object of another aspect of this invention to pro vide acoin-separating device which can distinguish and separate paramagneticgenuine coins from ferromagnetic and/or paramagnetic slugs.

A further principal object of the present invention is to provide anattachment for existing coin-handling devices for converting the same toinclude magnetic sensing devices having improved sensitivities and alsomeans to adjust such sensitivity.

2. Broad Statements of the Invention Accordingly, in accordance with onebroad and basic aspect of the present invention, there is providedimproved magnetic sensing in coinhandling devices which consists oflocating the magnet or magnetizable member of the sensing device in thepath which the coin to be sensed will follow to ensure physicalface-to-face contact with the coin and also further including means forselectively varying the magnetic attractive force of the sensor. In thisaspect of the invention, the magnetic sensing means preferably comprisesa magnet, and a slide face physically and magnetically coupled to themagnet. Also, the means for selectively varying the magnetic attractiveforce includes a casing, formed of nonmagnetic, non-magnetizablematerial, with the magnet and the magnetic flux adjusting means beingmounted in the casing, the magnet and the flux adjusting means beingrelatively slidably mounted with respect to each other.

By one broad aspect of this invention, there is provided, in acoin-sorting apparaztus wherein a coin is caused to move down a chute, aslide face physically and magnetically coupled to the magnet andprojecting into the chute defined by an inclined runway and a pair ofsubstantially parallel plates, the improvement comprising: a magnetpositioned in the chute so that a coin moving in the chute is in direct,sliding, face-toface contact therewith, the magnet including a magneticfluxadjusting means directly contacting and magnetically coupled to themagnet, and including a casing, formed of non-magnetic, non-magnetizablematerial, with the magnet and the magnetic flux adjusting means beingmounted in the casing, the magnet and the flux adjusting means beingrelatively slidably mounted with respect to each other, the strength ofthe magnet having been adjusted by such magnetic flux adjusting means:(a) to attract and hold all coins made of iron or steel or otherferromagnetic metals and those coins made of nickel or otherparamagnetic metal having a smooth face; and (b) to attract and retardthe speed of movement of coins made of nickel or other paramagneticmetal and having an embossed or imprinted face.

In one variant of this broad aspect of this invention, three such magnetmeans are provided, namely, one for testing quaners, one for testingnickels, and one for testing dimes. It may also be readily adapted totest 50 and $l.00 coins.

In one embodiment, the magnet includes a casing (e. g. a cylindricalbushing) formed of non-magnetic or non-magnetizable material (e.g.brass); a slide face is mounted on and/or within the casing, and isformed of magnetic and/or magnetizable material (e. g. steel); a magnetis provided within the casing and magnetically coupled to the slide face(e. g. by having one pole of the magnet in contact with the slide face);and a magnetic flux bleed or controller is mounted with respect to thecasing and is movable with respect to the magnet, and is formed ofmagnetizable material (e. g. is a grub screw which is movable axiallyfrom one pole of the magnet).

By another broad aspect of this invention, there is provided, in acoin-sorting apparatus wherein a coin is caused to move down a chutedefined by an inclined runway and a pair of substantially parallelplates, the improvement comprising: a cradle in the coin chute, thecradle being pivotally mounted with respect to the coin chute and havingone arm thereof provided with a magnet, an extension of one pole of themagnet projecting into the coin chute in the path of movement of coins,the magnet including a magnetic flux-adjusting means, the strength ofthe magnet having been adjusted: (at) to attract and hold by the rimthereof all coins made of iron or steel or other ferromagnetic metalsand those coins made of nickel or other paramagnetic metal having asmooth rim; and (b) to attract and retard the speed of movement of coinsmade of nickel or other paramagnetic metal.

In the latter embodiment, the magnetizable material engages the edges ofthe coins. The magnetic flux may be adjusted with sufficient sensitivitysuch that coins having a serrated edge may be separated from thosehaving a smooth edge because of the difference in area of contactbetween the magnet and the respective types of coins. Accordingly, coinsmay be selected dependent upon the surface characteristic of the same incombination with the magnetic properties of the material. It will alsobe realized that edge engagement of coins may be used in any one of anumber ofchutes.

In one variant of the invention, the coin-handling device is providedwith means to divide the same into one or more passages, or chutes asthey may be referred to. There may be as many chutes as desired, forexample, one each for nickels, dimes, quarters, fifty-cent pieces anddollar pieces or any combination thereof.

In other variants and embodiments of this aspect of this invention, thechute divider is in the form ofa pivotally mounted cradle which isengaged by the coin. A coin having the size and weight of a quarter" isengaged by the two arms of the cradle, pivots the cradle and then isautomatically discharged down a quarter" coin chute. A coin having thesize and weight of a nickel passes between the arms of the firstpivotally mounted cradle. It engages the arms of a second pivotallymounted cradle. If it has the weight and size of a genuine "nickel," itcauses the cradle to pivot and then discharge the coin down a nickel''chute. Coins having the size and weight of a dime" or a "penny" passbetween the arms of the second pivotally mounted cradle and engage acounterweighted pivotally mounted gate. Coins having the weight of apenny" have sufi'icient momentum to. open the gate and are discharged toa "penny reject chute. Coins having the weight of a "dime haveinsufficient momentum to open the gate, and are deflected to a dimechute. Each of the quarter, nickel," and "dime" chutes is provided withthe magnet with which the coin is in direct, sliding, face-tofacecontact, the magnet having the magnet flux-adjusting means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS l. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In theaccompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view taken from one side of thecoin-handling device showing one face thereof and illustrating oneaspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. I taken from the otherside of the coin-handling device and illustrating a further aspect ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but with thestripping plate removed for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but with thestripping plate and the movable gate rotated through to reveal the partstherebelow and provide an end elevational view of the rotated parts;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but with thestripping plate, the movable gate, and the movable wall each removed forclarity;

FIG. 6 is a section along the line Vl-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a section along the line Vll-Vll of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a section along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. I;

FIG. 9 is a fragmatic elevational view of FIG. 3, showing the path of"quarters" through the coin-handling device;

FIG. I0 is a fragmatic elevational view of FIG. 3, showing the path ofnickels through the coin-handling device; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmatjc elevational view of FIG. 3, showing the pathofdimes through the coin-handling device.

2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The coin chutes according toaspects of the present invention as shown in the drawings are preferablyadapted to be used in conjunction with other presently conventionalcoinseparating devices which separate coins by means of their weight, bymeans of their diameter, by means of their thickness, and by testing forthe presence of apertures therethrough, and also is preferably used withpresently commercially available coin-scavenging devices for thereleasing of unacceptable coins or slugs. In order to provide a completedescription of the co-operation between the coin chute of aspects of thepresent invention and the conventional coin chutes, reference will nowbe made to FIGS. 1 5. Brief descriptions only will be given for theseparticular separators, it being understood that more completedescriptions may be found in one or more of the following Canadian Pat.Nos.: 470,637 issued Jan. 9, I951 to Robert M. Foushee; 552,76l issuedFeb. 4, I958 to Merral P. I-Iaverstick; 561,074 issued July 29, 1958 toJohn Gottfried; 561.800 issued Aug. 12, I958 to Merral P. Haverstick;595,94l issued Apr. 12, 1960 to Merral P. Haverstick; 745.437 issuedNov. 1, 1966 to Anton Okolischan; and 755,884 issued Apr. 4, I967 toAnton Okolischan.

3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1 5

Referring now to FIGS. 1 5 inclusive, the numeral 20 denotes the frameof the coin separator provided by aspects of the present invention. Thatframe is essentially a flat plate provided with a projecting flange 22on one edge thereof and with an opposed, facing flange 24 at the otheredge thereof. Two spaced apart ears 26 are provided on flange 22, eachappearing as a post upstanding from frame 20. The cars 26 support apivot pin 28 which in turn, rotatably supports a movable gate 100.Movable gate includes a main portion 102 provided with a pair oflongitudinally extending arms 104 joined, near their outer ends, by atransverse rib 106. At the outer end of each of the arms 104 is abushing 108 through which pivot pin 28 passes. Gate 100 can thus rotateabout the pin 28 from a position in parallel relation with the centralweb 30 of the frame to a position angularly disposed relative to centralweb 30. A spring 32 encircles the pivot pin 28, one end projectingthrough aperture 34 in web 30 and engaging therewith, the other endbearing against a transverse rib 106 of the gate 100. Spring 32 thusbiases gate 100 into parallel relation with the central web 30 of theframe 20. A spacer 110 is formed on the gate 100, the spacer 110 beingadapted to engage the central web 30 of the frame 20 to limit themovement of the gate 100 toward the central web of the frame 20. Thisspacer 110 is suitably dimensioned to enable the gate 100 to co-operatewith the central web 30 of the frame 20 to provide the entering portionof a coin passageway.

A movable wall 200 is also rotatably mounted about the pivot pin 28 bymeans of spaced apart, upstanding lugs 202 through which pivot pin 28passes. No additional spring is used to bias the movable wall 200 towardthe central web 30 of the frame 20. Wall 200 is shaped to fit in theopening defined by arms 104 and main portion 102 of gate 100.Additionally, an ear 204 is adapted to be disposed under the upper ofarms 104, and a bottom edge 206 is adapted to be disposed under thelower of arms 104 ofgate 100. Wall 200 is provided with a longitudinallyextending slot 208. The leading, free edge 210 of wall 200 is providedwith an upstanding ledge 212 above slot 208, and a pair of upstandingledges 214 below slot 208. Ledges 212 and 214 act as baffles which areprovided to keep coins from slipping into the space between the outersurface of the movable wall 200 and the inner surface of the gate 100whenever the gate 100 is moved away from the central web 30 of the frame20. If the coins tend to follow the gate 100, the forward edges of thesecoins will strike the edges of baffles 212 and 214 and will be kept fromslipping to the outer surface of the movable wall 200. Adjacent ledge212 is a first adjustable magnet means 216 and adjacent ledge 214 is asecond adjustable magnet means 218. These adjustable magnet means 216and 218 will be described in greater detail in F IG. 7.

A spacer pedestal 36 is provided on the central web 30 of the frame 20.This spacer pedestal 36 is suitably dimensioned to abut the opposed faceof movable wall 200 at the region of ear 204, thereby to hold theleading free edge 210 of the movable wall 200 away from the central web30 of the frame 20 a distance just slightly greater than the thicknessof acceptable coins. Thus, the spacer pedestal 36 assures themaintenance of the proper spacing between the leading free edge 210 ofthe movable wall 200 and the central web 30 of the frame 20 to acceptgenuine coins, but to reject, by jamming, coins or slugs which are toothick.

Slot 208 which is formed in the movable wall 200 accommodates a runway112 on the gate 100, the slot permitting runway 112 to move, when gate100 moves, into engagement with the central web 30 of the frame 20.Generally above the runway 112 is a pair of upper downwardly slopingparallel depressed channels 38 and 40 formed in central web 30. Coinsrolling down runway 112 will be guided by means of channels 38 and 40 tomove past the zone of magnetic flux of the first magnet means 216,between the central web 30 of frame 20 and the opposed face of wall 200,i.e., in quarter" passageway 113. The gate 100 carries a second runway114 which extends to and engages the central web 30 of the frame 20.Coins rolling along runway 114 will be guided by means of a pair oflower downwardly sloping parallel depressed channels 42 and 44 and willthen pass the zone of magnetic flux of the second magnet means 218between the central zone of the frame 20 and the opposed face of wall200, ie in nickel" passageway 115.

The upper edge of main portion 102 of gate 100 includes a guide 116defining, between it and central web 30, an en trance coin passageway118. A coin funnel 120 of generally hollow inverted pyramidal shape issecured, by one of its walls, to guide 1 16 by screw 122. The width ofthe coin passageway is provided by upstanding, spaced apart pedestalwalls 46 on central web 30. A pivot 124 is secured to the main portion102 of gate at a point below the guide wall 116 and that pivot 124supports a first coin-sizing gauge or cradle 126. This coinsizing gaugeor cradle 126 is provided with a first angular projection 128 whichextends through a slot 130 in gate 100 and into a depressed channel 48in central web 30. This projection thus extends into the coin passageway118 defined by the gate 100 and the frame 20, and will intercept coinsintroduced into that passageway. The other end of coin-sizing gauge orcradle 126 is provided with an adjustable magnetic cradle 132 includinga magnet 134, a pole piece 136, a magnet strength adjusting plate 138and a pole piece extension rod 140 extending into the quarter" coinpassageway 113 to intercept coins introduced into that passageway. Theadjustable magnetic cradle 132 will be described in greater detail inFIG. 6.

A stop 142 is provided on the gate 100, and it holds the coin-sizinggauge or cradle 126 in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 during normalconditions of operation. A counterweight 144 is provided on thecoin-sizing gauge or cradle 126 to maintain it in a position againststop 142, Le. to rotate it in a counterclockwise direction against thestop 142. When a coin of the proper size and proper weight enters thepassageway 118 and engages the projections 128 and 140 on thecoin-sizing gauge or cradle 126, the weight of that com will cause thegauge or cradle 126 to rotate in a clockwise direction away from thestop 142. The coinsizing gauge or cradle 126 will continue to rotatewith the coin until the coin can fall freely from the projections 128and 140 thereof, whereupon the weight of the gauge or cradle 126provided by weight 144 will rotate it in a counterclockwise direction.The runway 112 which is provided on the gate 100 will receive coins fromthe first sizing gauge or cradle 126. A more detailed description of theoperation of adjustable magnetic cradle 132 and of the first adjustablemagnet means 116 according to aspects of this invention will be providedhereinafter with reference to FIG. 9.

A second coin-sizing gauge or cradle 146 is secured to the gate 100 bybeing mounted on a pivot 148. This coin-sizing gauge 146 has angularprojections 150 and 152 thereon which extend through slots 154 and 156respectively in the gate 100 and are guided in depressed channels 50 and52 provided in the central web 30 of the frame 20. The secondcoin-sizing gauge or cradle 146 is disposed below and to the left of thefirst coin-sizing gauge or cradle 126, and it will receive and testcoins which are too small in diameter to be intercepted and momentarilyheld by the projections 128, 140 on the first coin-testing gauge orcradle 126 and then delivered to the runway 112. The second gauge orcradle 146 has a counterweight 158 thereon that normally holds the gaugein the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Whenever a coin of proper sizeand proper weight engages and is held by the projections 150 and 152 ofthe gauge or cradle 146, that coin will cause gauge or cradle 146 torotate in a clockwise direction. The gauge or cradle 146 will continueto rotate in a clockwise direction until the coin held by theprojections 150, 152 of gauge or cra' dle 146 can fall free onto arunway to be described hereinafter and permit the counterweight 158 ofthe gauge 146 to rotate the gauge 146 back to the position shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. Coins which fall free are delivered to runway 114.

A bracket plate 160 is secured to the gate 100 at a point almostimmediately below the second gauge or cradle 146. A feeler wire 162 ispivotally secured beneath plate 160. A weight 164 is secured to thefeeler wire 162, and that weight, which is adapted to be disposed in adepressed channel 166 in the gate 100, biases the upper end 168 of thefeeler wire 162 into a coin passageway 170 between the gate 100 and thecentral web 30 of the frame 20 adjacent the second gauge or cradle 146.The feeler wire 162 is intended to intercept and hold coins or washerswhich have openings therethrough or which have abnormal surfacedeformations. The operation of these elements is described withreference to FIG. 10.

An ear 172 on the free edge of the gate 100 carries a generally V-shapeddeflector 174 by means of a pivot pin 176, the deflector 174 beingprovided with a weight 178 on one of the legs thereof. The deflector 174is therefore free to pivot relative to the ear 172 and is thus free topivot relative to the gate 100 and the central web 30 of the frame 20.The weight 178 on the one leg of the deflector 174 will bias the otherleg of that deflector into a coin passageway 180 defined by the gate 100and the central web 30 of the frame 20.

An opening 54 is provided in the central web 30 of the frame to permitother coins, such as United States or Canadian ten-cent coins (dimes) topass from the coin passageway 180 between the gate 100 and the centralweb of the frame 20 and preferably also to any desirable conventionalother testing mechanisms (not shown). This opening 54 will be just largeenough to accommodate coins such as the United States or Canadianone-cent coins (pennies) which are to be detected and rejected bymechanisms on the central web 30 of the frame 20 adjacent flange 24.Included in those detecting mechanisms for the pennies" is acoin-intercepting plate 56 secured to the central web 30 of the frame 20adjacent flange 24. The arcuate portion 58 of the plate 56 is spacedabove and to the left of the upper portion of the opening 54, thusexposing an arcuate area of the central web 30 of the frame 20. Thisarcuate area will be narrow and will reflect the difference in diameterbetween a penny and a dime.

Dimes moving past second coin-sizing gauge 146 and passing throughopening 54 will strike V-shaped deflector 174 with insufficient momentumto be deflected out of the coin passageway 180, and will be permitted toenter a coin passageway 182 between central web 30 and movable wall 410.On the other hand, pennies moving past second coin-sizing gauge 146 andpassing opening 54 will strike V-shaped deflector 174 with such momentumas to be deflected out of the coin passageway 180v Thus, the penny willbe deflected over the bottom, flat edge 60 of opening 54 to the rejectedcoin chute 62 formed in part by flange 24 and central web 30 of frame20, thereby preventing the blocking of the accepted coin chute 182 withpennies.

A small centering opening 64 is provided in the central web 30 of theframe 20, and a coin-intercepting element 184 is mounted on the gate 100in registry with the opening 64. Element 184 is loosely secured to gate100 by means ofa pivot (not shown). A centering pin 186 in the form of acone is carried by the free end of the element [84, pin 186 being inregistry with the opening 64. Pin 186 extends through an opening (notshown) in gate 100, which is large enough to permit the free end of theelement 184 to move vertically a slight distance. When the gate 100 isspaced from the central web 30 of the frame 20, the free end of theelement 184 will move downwardly under the influence of gravity untilthe shoulder that surrounds the pin 186 rests on the bottom edge of theopening into which it extends. At this time, the pin 186 will still bein registry with the opening 64, but the point of the pin 186 will notbe precisely in registry with the geometric center of the opening 64. Asthe gate 100 moves toward the central web 30 of the frame 20, theconical face on the pin 186 will co-act with the edge of the opening 64to raise the free end of the element 184 and thus place the uppersurface of that element in precisely spaced relation to the stationarycoin-intercepting element 56. Variations in the position of the freeedge of the gate 100, due to manufacturing tolerances and wear, will beless than the centering made possible by the opening in the gate 100,the pin 186 and the opening 64. As a result, the coin-interceptingelement 182 will always be restored to a precisely spaced relationshipwith the coin-intercepting element 56 whenever the gate 100 is parallelto and adjacent the central web 30 of the frame 20.

The operation of these elements is described in greater detail in FIG.11.

A plate-like partition 300 is spaced from central web 30 at the lowerportion of the frame 20 to define two coin passageways 302 and 304. Coinpassageway 302 joins coin passageway 118 and is for coins which areintercepted and sized by the first coin-sizing gauge or cradle 126. Coinpassageway 304 joins coin passageway 182 and is for coins interceptedand sized by the second coin-sizing gauge 146. The partition 300 has anopening 306 therein. This opening is slightly above and slightly to theleft of the geometric center of the partition 300, and an inclinedprojection 308 extends through opening 306 and rests in a recess 66 inthe central web 30 of the frame 20. This inclined projection 308 acts asan inclined plane and will intercept and deflect rejected coins out ofthe passageways defined by the partition 300 and the central web 30 ofthe frame 20.

A notch 310 is provided in the upper edge of the partition 300, thenotch being located generally to the left of the opening 306 in thepartition 300. The notch 310 is generally V- shaped in configuration andhas the apex 312 thereof spaced inwardly from the upper edge 314 ofpartition 300. A bifurcated gate 316 is rotatably mounted on a pivot 318which is secured to the partition 300. Coin-engaging annular projections320, 322 are formed on the ends of the arms of the gate 316. Projection320 extends into coin passageways 302 and 304 and travels in recess 68in central web 30. Projection 322 also projects into coin passageways302 and 304 and travels in recess 70 in central web 30. Projections 320and 322 are spaced apart to define a coin-receiving opening for the gate316 which is large enough to receive and pass the coins which areintercepted and sized by the second gauge 146. but which is too small toreceive and pass the coins which are intercepted and sized by the firstgauge 126. This gate, therefore, as one of its functions, verifies theaction of gauge or cradle 126. The coins that do leave through theopening 306 in the gate 300 do so freely and without interception andand momentary holding provided by the coin-testing gauges 126 and 146.The lefthand edge of the notch 310 will act as the upper stop for thegate 316 and the bottom of the opening 306 will act as the lower stopfor the gate 316. These stops will act to define the bounds of thevirtual opening provided by the gate 316. The gate 316 will normallyrest against the lower stop but it will be able to rotate upwardly withrapidity and ease.

An anvil 72 is secured by a screw 76 in a slot 74 in central web 30adjacent flange 23 and is disposed below and to the right of the lowerend of the runway l 12.

A second partition 400 is secured to the frame 20 and spaced fromcentral web 30 so that the partition 300 and the partition 400 areoppositely disposed of the frame 20 (see FIG. 1). Partition 400 andframe 20 define several coin passageways. In addition, partition 400includes, as an integral member thereof, a portion to which is securedan adjustable magnetic means 402 of an aspect of this invention, whichwill be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The magnetic means 402 is disposed in a coin passageway 404 definedpartly by a pair of indented channels (not shown) in partition 400, apair of indented channels (not shown) in the frame 20 and facing thechannels in the partition 400, and a runway 407 secured by screws 406,408 to a movable wall 410. Movable plate 410 is pivoted by shaft 412between upstanding lug 414 and flange 416. A hold-down plate 418, biasedby spring 420, retains wall 410 in proper position. Secured to wall 410is a coin-testing gauge provided by wire 422 pivotally secured beneath apost and retaining plate 424 by screw 426. The other end of the wire 422is provided with a counterweight 428 to bias the wire 422 to projectthrough slot 430 in wall 410.

Partition 400 is also provided with additional coin-verifying devices.An anvil 432 is secured by screw 434 in a slot 436. Also secured theretois a plate 438, by screw 440, the plate being provided with amomentum-absorbing lever 442 pivoted at 448 and including an angularprojection 450 into the coin chute.

Secured to the rear face of frame 20 adjacent but below slot 74 is anL-shaped plate 448, by means of screw 450. A mo mentLun-absorbing lever452 is pivoted by pivot 454 on lever 448 and includes an angularprojection 456 projecting into the coin passageway through opening orslot 78.

A stripping plate 500 is also pivoted on the pivot pin 28, and a spring502 is provided to urge the stripping plate toward the central web 30 ofthe frame 20. The spring 502 encircles the pivot pin 28 and has one endprojecting through aperture 34 in the central web 30 and has the otherend bearing against a lug 504 on the stripper plate 500. The stripperplate 500 has three angularly disposed stripping projections 506, 508and 510,formed at the free edge thereof. Stripping projections 506 and$08 extend through a slot 188 in the gate 100, one on the upstream endand the other on the downstream end of magnet means 132 while strippingprojection 510 extends through slot 154 in the gate 100. The strippingprojections 506, 508 and 510 are normally spaced outwardly of the slots188 and 154 in the gate 100, being held away from those openings by themagnet means 216. However, whenever the gate 100 is moved outwardly andaway from the center wall of the frame 20, as when a slug is to bestripped" from the coin chute, the slots 188 and 154 will be telescopedover the stripping projections 506, 508 and 510 and thus, suchprojections will strip away any coins which tend to move with the gateadjacent the slots 188 and 154.

In addition, a connecting arrn 530 is also guided by pin 520 along anarcuate slot (not shown) in frame 20. A cam surface 532 of the arm 530engages a roller 458 mounted on shafi 460. This causes movable wall 410to be rotated slightly, thereby increasing the thickness of any coinpassageway defined between frame 20 and wall 410.

A link arm 534, spring biased by means of spring 536, transmits movementof arm 530 to a second wiper arm 538, which is pivoted at 540, throughpin 542. Thus, as wall 410 is rotated, the wiper arm sweeps the coinpassageway clean.

4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 6

Turning now to FIG. 6 (and referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3) the firstadjustable magnet means 132 includes a magnet 134 disposed betweenmagnetic pole piece 136 and non-magnetic jaw 137. The pole piece 136 isprovided with a pole piece extension rod 140 extending through polepiece 136 and one arm of first cradle 126, and provided with a head 139.As seen in FIG. 6, pole piece extension rod 140 is adapted to move inthe arcuate depression 51 in the central web 30. A rotatably movableadjusting plate 138 is secured to the magnet means 132 by means of ascrew 141 extending through plate 138 and into jaw 137. In effect, screw141 acts as a fulcrum around which plate 138 pivots to control themagnitude of the magnetic flux at pole 136 and extension rod 140. Oncethe magnitude of the magnetic flux is adjusted to the necessary value,as will be described later, the screw 141 is tightened to preventfurther undesired rotation of the plate 138.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 7

As seen in FIG. 7, the first adjustable magnet means 216 and the secondadjustable magnet means 218 are each mounted on the movable wall 200 andhave a portion which projects into the respective coin passages. Theportion projecting inwardly into the passage faces central web 30 of theframe 20. The first adjustable magnet means 216 includes a housing orsupport 220 formed of a non-magnetic or non-magnetizable material, forexample, brass, bronze or the like. The housing 220 is secured, in anyconvenient manner, to the movable wall 200, for example, by brazing, oralternatively, may be detachably secured as, for example, by suitablebracket assemblies. The wall member 200 similarly is made ofnon-magnetic or non-magnetizable material. As illustrated in FIG. 7, thehousing 220 is an annular bushing having an internally threaded bore 230and is clamped to the wall 200 by a member that threads into the bore.The magnetic means 216 includes a portion 222 which is referred toherein as a sensor and which projects into the passage (or chute) a coinfollows. The sensor 222 is made of magnetic or magnetizable material andin the embodiment illustrated includes a threaded spigot 223 having anouter diameter smaller than the remainder thereof. The threaded spigot223 passes through an aperture 226 in the wall 200 and is threaded intothe bore 230 of the housing or support 220, detachably mounting themagnetic means 216 on the movable wall 200. The threaded spigot 223 hasan axial bore 224 which receives, in friction fit, a rod magnet 234projecting therefrom into the threaded bore 230 of the support 220. Anexternally threaded sleeve 236, having an axial bore 238, is threadedinto the internally threaded bore 230 with the magnet 234 projectinginto the central bore 238. The externally threaded sleeve 236 isreferred to in the specification as a grub screw and has a transverseend slot 239 to receive a Stanley screwdriver for turning the sleeve inthe threaded bore. The threaded sleeve 236 is made of magnetic ormagnetizable material, and by being threaded into and out of the bore230, an air gap 2400 between the adjacent ends of members 236 and 223 isvaried. By varying the air gap 2400, the strength of the magnet isvaried and by strength herein, what is meant is the magnetic attractiveforce of the sensor 222.

In the foregoing description, sensor 222 is described as being made of amagnetic or magnetizable material. It is obvious the portion 222, whichprojects into the passage, may be integrally formed with the rod magnet234 or any other type of magnet. Alternatively, the adjusting sleeve 236may be the magnet with the sensor and rod projecting into the magnetbeing made of a magnetizable material. Also, in the foregoing, it isnoted various means may be utilized to mount the housing 220on movablewall 200. In a further alternative embodiment, the housing 220 may bethreaded externally adjacent one end and, accordingly, threaded into acorresponding threaded aperture in the wall 200. If desired, a lock nutmay be utilized to variously position the sensor portion at the rightspacing for the amount it must project into the passage. As previouslyindicated, the sensor 222 is positioned in the path of a coin such thatit will make direct physical contact with the coin. By utilizing thelatter embodiment, means is provided whereby the space allotted for thecoin to bypass may be readily varied.

The second or "nickel" adjustable magnet means 218 is identical instructure to the first adjustable magnet means, and consequently, thesame reference numerals are used. The only difference is that secondadjustable magnet means 218 is mounted in a second aperture 244 in thewall 200.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 8

Turning now to FIG. 8, the third or dime" adjustable magnet means 402 isidentical in structure to the first and second adjustable magnet means216 and 218 respectively. However, it is mounted on partition 400 asfollows: an L-shaped bracket 460 including a horizontal leg 462 and avertical leg 464 are mounted on mounting bracket 466 of partition 400.The mounting is by means of screw 468, aided by washer 470, passingthrough slot 472 in bracket 466 and into a tapped aperture (not shown)in vertical leg 464; horizontal leg 462 is provided with an aperture 474in which circumferential slot 226 of mounting stud 222 is seated.

7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 9 l l The operation of a coin chuteaccording to the various aspects of this invention is clearly indicatedin FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. As seen in FIG. 9, a coil A1 is first placed inthe coin funnel and if it is of small enough size, it may pass throughthe coin passageway 118 defined by central web 30, guide wall 116 ofgate 100 and inwardly sloping pedestal wall 46.

The coin then passes to position A2 where it passes in the yoke definedby first projection 128 of first coin cradle 126 and the pole pieceextension rod of adjustable magnet cradle 132. The magnitude of themagnetic flux at pole piece extension rod 140 has previously beenadjusted by means of adjusting plate 138 to be such that it: (a) engagesand retains all coins of high magnetic permeability (i.e. iron or steelor similar magnetic or magnetizable material); (b) engages and retardsbut does not stop the movement of coins of medium magnetic permeability(i.e. nickel or similar material); and (c) engages but has no effect oncoins made of other metals (e.g., silver). If the coin is of sufficientweight, it tips the first coin cradle 126 against the inertia ofcounterweight 144 and is discharged into coin passageway 113, runningoff runway 112 and subjected to the magnetic flux of first adjustablemagnet means 216 while it is in sliding contact therewith (at positionA3).

The magnetic flux of magnet means 216 has been adjusted by grub screw236 so that: (a) it engages and retains all coins of high magneticpermeability; (b) it engages and retains those coins of medium magneticpermeability which have a smooth face; and (c) it engages and retardsbut does not retain those coins of medium magnetic permeability havingan imprinted face. Those coins which are accepted by 126 and 216 willthen fall downwardly towards the momentum-absorbing lever 452 whichextends through an opening 78 in the central web 30 of frame 20 andthrough an opening 324 in the partition 300. This lever spans thepassageway between the partition 300 and the central web 30 of the frame20 and coins falling from the runway 112 will strike lever 452. Thelever 452 may be provided with a weight (not shown) and the momentum ofthe coins which strike the lever would then be absorbed to some extentby the raising of the weight. Thereafter, the coins will, if they areauthentic coins, fall downwardly and strike an inclined surface 326which is formed on the partition 300 (see position A5). This inclinedsurface extends through an opening 80 which is formed in the central web30 and it directs coins through that opening. Any such coins will passthrough and be guided by the accepted coin chute between the partition300 and the wall 476. If the coins which strike the lever 452 are notauthentic, they will bounce to the left and will fall against theinclined plane 308 and be directed to a rejected coin chute.

Slugs or spurious coins which may pass the tests at 126 and 216 rollalong the runway 112 and may strike anvil 72 and rebound to the leftpast the lever 452 (see FIG. 5).

This anvil 72 will cause those coins moving through along runway 112 torebound in a direction towards gate 316. Ifthe coins happen to follow apath which enables them to pass between the coin-receiving projections320, 322 of gate 316, those coins will then follow the path of anaccepted coin. However, if the coins are authentic but follow a pathwhich does not take them neatly between the coin-engaging projections320, 322 and the gate 316, those coins will strike the projections andforce the bifurcated gate 316 to rotate until they can pass between theprojections 320, 322 of gate 316. Thereafter, these coins will followthe path of an accepted coin. The slight variations in weight, thicknessand resilience of coins of the same type is great enough to cause thosecoins to rebound from the anvil 72 at slightly different angles. Accordingly, if the gate 316 were held stationary or if the entrance tothe accepted coin chute was made just slightly larger than the diameterof the coins intercepted and held by the gauge 146, many authentic coinswould be unable to enter the accepted coin chute but instead would bereflected backwardly therefrom. Such backwardly reflected coins willfall downwardly against the inclined projection 308 and be directedtowards a rejected coin chute. Accordingly, to receive and passsubstantially all authentic coins, it is necessary that the gate 316rotate and that it rotate freely enough that the coins can move thatgate into coin-accepting position, as described abovev The bifurcatedgate 316 also serves to reflect nickel slugs and quarter slugs to falldownwardly against the inclined projection 308 and thus be directed tothe rejected coin chute.

Whether the coins rebound from the anvil 72 or from the lever 452, thosecoins would pass through a portion of the passageway through which coinsgauged by the second coin cradle 146 must pass. In fact, the coins whichrebound from the anvil 72 or the lever 452 can move sufi'iciently far tothe left in that passageway as to attempt to enter an accepted coinduct. Ifthose coins were to enter that duct, they could not passcompletely through that duct because its width is smaller than thediameter of such coins. Instead, those coins would lodge in thatpassageway and interfere with proper operation of the coin separator. Itis to keep such coins out of the accepted coin duct that the bifurcatedgate 316 is provided. If the coin rebounds from the anvil 72 or from themomentumabsorbing lever 452 and attempts to enter an accepted coin duct,that coil will engage and be held by the projections 320, 322 on thegate 316 because those projections define an opening which is smallerthan the diameter of such slugs or coins. In fact, the opening definedby the projections 320, 322 on the gate 316 is so small that the slugsor spurious coins cannot enter that opening sufficiently to lodge withinit. Instead, they can enter only part way and must then fall backwardlytoward the inclined plane 308. This plane will then direct the slugs orspurious coins to a rejected coin duct.

Accepted coins pass through an accepted coin duct at position A6. Aspresently constituted, such coin would be a Canadian or United Statesnew or old "quarter," although the components may be altered to acceptCanadian or United States 50 coins or dollar coins.

As seen in FIG. 10, if the coin is too small to engage the arms 128, 140of first magnetic cradle 126, it passes through the B2 position toengage the arms 150, 152 of the second coin cradle 146 at position B3.If the coin is of the proper diameter to engage both arms 150, 152 andis of sufiicient weight to offset the inertia of counterweight 156, andif the feeler wire 162 does not sense, intercept and hold coins orwashers which have openings therethrough or which have abnormal surfacedeformations, that coin will cause cradle 146 to rotate in a clockwisedirection. The clockwise rotation of cradle 146 will continue until thecoins are discharged from projections 150, 152 to fall free on runway114 and permit cradle 146 to rotate to its initial position. The coin atthe B4 position is subjected to the magnetic flux of second adjustablemagnet means 218.

The magnetic flux of magnet 218 has been adjusted: (a) to engage andretain all ferromagnetic coins; (b) to engage and retain paramagneticcoins having a smooth face; and (c) to engage and retard but not retainparamagnetic coins having an imprinted face.

Coins accepted by 218 roll off the edge of runway 114 and passdownwardly past projection 320 of gate 316 and through opening 316 inpartition 300 (at position B5) and deflect off inclined surface 308 toengage runway 328 (at position B6). The coin rolls down runway 328 pastposition B7 and off the edge of runway 328 to be discharged at positionB8 at an accepted coin duct.

As presently constituted, coins emerging at position B8 will be Canadianor United States nickels.

As seen in FlG. 11, a coin too small to be engaged by 126 passesdownwardly and, at position C2, engages the rim of arcuate depressedchannel 51 and is guided downwardly to the left. The coin, too small tobe engaged by 146, instead engages the rim of depressed channel 52 andis guided towards opening 54 and coin-intercepting plate 56. As thosecoins reach the upper end of intercepting plate 56, they will be inregistry with the opening 54; they will also be in engagement withV-shaped deflector 174 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The deflector 174 will urgethose coins toward the opening 54. If they are no larger than a dime,"they will fall through opening 54 (see position C4). Any coins which arelarger than a dime will be unable to pass through the opening 54 becausethe distance between the upper left-hand portion of that opening and theupper surface of the intercepting plate 56 is carefully gauged to bejust larger than the diameter of a United States or Canadian dime.

The coin then passes by wire 422 which projects through slot 430 in wall410. The wire determines whether there is an aperture in the coin, orwhether there are any abnormal surface deformities. Also if the coin istoo light, it will deflect off wire 422 and through opening in centralweb 30 to a reject chute. Accepted coins pass to third adjustable magnet402, at position C5, on runway 407.

Magnet 402 has been adjusted: (a) to engage and retain all ferromagneticcoins, (b) to engage and retain those paramagnetic coins having a smoothface; and (c) to engage and retard but not retain those paramagneticcoins having an embossed or imprinted face.

Those coins passing tests as described above pass through accepted coinchute at positions C6 and C7. If the coin is of silver or othernon-magnetic or non-magnetizable metal, its speed will be such that itdeflects off anvil 432 (see FIG. 1) to be deflected away from theaccepted coin chute. On the GU16! hand, if the coin is of nickel, itwill have been slowed down to such an extent that it falls directly ontolever 442, to be discharged at position C8.

As presently constituted, the coins emerging at position C8 will be oldor new Canadian or United States dimes."

Coins which pass through opening 54 with sufficient momentum to urgeV-shaped deflector 174 out of the way against the inertia ofcounterweight 178 are caused to spill over bevelled edge 60 of aperture54 to pass to a rejected coin chute 62. As presently constituted, thecoins in the rejected coin chute will be Canadian or United Statespennies."

If the coins are slightly larger than Canadian or United Statespennies," they will be retained by elements 54 and 56, thereby jammingthe chute. Such coins, as well as any other coins retained at walls 46,first cradle 126, first adjustable magnet means 216, second cradle 146,second adjustable magnet means 218 and by third adjustable magnet means402 are released and carried to enter a discharge chute by actuating thewiping mechanism with lever 516, as previously described.

In the foregoing description, it is clearly evident coins follow variouspassages through the coin chute dependent upon their denomination. Thecoins, in travelling down the inclined passages, gain a certain amountof momentum and this momentum may be utilized to select, dependent uponkickers and separators used individually or in combination in one ormore of the passages. By utilizing the magnetically adjustable sensors,there is provided means for controlling the momentum which a coin maygain, and accordingly, separation may be based upon the momentumgathered. This change in momentum may be used to select coins dependingupon desired characteristics based on magnetic acceptance or rejection,that is, the magnetic characteristics. For example, in the cradle 132,the magnetic extension 140 may be adjusted to separate serratededgedcoins from those which are not ser rated by applying different magneticattractive forces and thereby controlling the speed with which the coinwill travel. By travelling at different speeds, the kickers orseparators will appropriately direct the coin to chutes or passagesprovided to receive them according to the selected features. It will beapparent that the magnets may be adjusted to the point where coins areretarded or allowed to travel at a speed where they cannot enter theaccept chute. Nickel coins, for example, may be retarded to the pointthat their trajectory is correct to allow them to go into the acceptchute. Silver and non-magnetics are not retarded and their trajectory issuch that they may be caused to either accept or reject, depending onthe setting of member 79, for example, in 25 coins; member 432, forexample, in 10 coins; and arm 320 of member 360 with regards to nickels.

The adjustability of the sensing means changing the sensitivity may beset such as to control the rate of descent of a coin down the inclinedpassageway so that the momentum will cause the coin to be accepted orrejected or directed to the passage desired dependent upon the magneticcharacteristics of the coin. It is thus evident from the foregoing, theadjustable magnetic sensors may be utilized to effect sorting of thecoins and also the separation of spurious coins from those which areproper and may be accepted. The sensitivity of the magnetic sensor isapplicable to edge engagement, as well as face engagement. Theadjustable magnetic means which has been previously described in detailmay be supplied as a separate element and installed on existingcoin-handling mechanisms by simply appropriately mounting the sensors tohave a portion projecting into the path followed by a coin and alsoincluding the adjustable feature. It will be realized, however, that themagnetic sensors must be mounted on a portion of the device which isnon-magnetic or non-magnetizable. It will be also be evident from theforegoing, the magnetic sensors, for example 216 and 218, may be mountedon a plate 200 as indicated in the drawings, which combination of thesensors and plate may be utilized in existing coin-handling devices toreplace a plate normally used to form a guide or one wall of a passagefollowed by the coins. Existing coin-handling devices, accordingly, maybe converted simply by substituting the foregoing disclosed plate 200with magnetizing elements 216 and 218 attached thereto for acorresponding plate in the existing machines.

Similarly, the cradles in existing coin-handling devices may be replacedby the cradle 126 which includes one arm of magnetic or magnetizablematerial with means to vary the strength of such magnet. As disclosed inthe foregoing, such adjusting means consists of member 138 which ismovably mounted and providing a path of low resistance for the flux andwhich is movable toward and away from the end pole piece 139 to vary theair gap therebetween.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easilyascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changesand modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages andconditions. Consequently, such changes and modifications are properly,equitably, and "intended" to be, within the full range of equivalence ofthe following claims.

We claim:

1. In a coin-sorting apparatus wherein a coin is caused to move down achute defined by an inclined runway and a pair of substantially parallelplates, the improvement comprising: a magnet positioned in the chute; aslide face physically and magnetically coupled to said magnet, andprojecting into said chute so that a coin moving in the chute is indirect, sliding, face-to-face contact therewith; a magnetic fluxadjusting means directly contacting, and magnetically coupled to, saidmagnet; and a casing, formed of non-magnetic or non-magnetizablematerial, physically uniting said magnet, said slide face and saidmagnetic flux adjusting means and serving to secure the same to one ofsaid plates; the strength of the magnet having been adjusted by saidmagnetic flux adjusting means in the following manner: (a) to attractand hold all coins made of iron or steel or other ferromagnetic metalsand those coins made of nickel or other paramagnetic metal having asmooth face; and (b) to attract and retard the speed of movement ofcoins made of nickel or other paramagnetic metal and having an imprintedface.

2. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the casing is securedto said slide face, wherein said magnetic flux adjusting means isthreadedly secured, within said casing, and wherein said magnet isrelatively slidably concentrically disposed within said magnetic fluxadjusting means, thereby holding the magnet and securing it adjacentsaid chute.

3. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the casing is formed ofbrass or copper.

4. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slide face isformed of steel.

5. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slide face is indirect contact with the pole of a bar or rod magnet.

6. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnetic fluxcontroller is movable axially with respect to the casing and withrespect to the pole of a bar or rod magnet.

7. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1 including such magnet means fortesting coins of two different denominations.

8. The coin sorting apparatus of claim 1, including such magnet meansfor testing coins of three different denominations.

9. The improved coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1 further including acradle in the coin chute, the cradle being pivotally mounted withrespect to the coin chute and having one arm thereof provided with amagnet, an extension of one pole of the magnet projecting into the coinchute, the magnet including said magnetic flux adjusting means, thestrength of the magnet having been adjusted: (a) to attract and hold bythe rim thereof all coins made of iron or steel or other ferromagneticmetals; and (b) to attract and retard the speed of movement of coinsmade of nickel or other paramagnetic metal.

10. The improved coin-sorting apparatus of claim 9, including suchmagnet means for testing coins of two diiferent denominations, saidcradle dividing said chute into two chutes for conveying and testing forgenuineness coins of said two different denominations.

11. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cradle dividesthe chute into at least two chutes for conveying and testing forgenuineness coins of at least two different denominations.

l2. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said pivotally mountedcradle is adapted to be engaged by a coin, and wherein a coin having apredetermined size and weight is adapted to pivot the cradle and beautomatically discharged down one predetermined coin chute.

13. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pivotallymounted cradle is adapted to be engaged by a coin, wherein a coin havinga predetermined size and weight is adapted to pivot the cradle and to beautomatically discharged down one said predetermined coin chute, andwherein coins not having said predetermined size and weight are adaptedto engage a second pivotally mounted cradle, and wherein a coin havingsaid second predetermined size and weight is adapted to pivot the cradleand to be automatically discharged down said second predetermined coinchute.

14. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 8, further including a cradle inthe coin chute, the cradle being pivotally mounted with respect to thecoin chute and having one arm thereof provided with a magnet, anextension of one pole of the magnet projecting into the coin chute, themagnet including said magnetic flux adjusting means, the strength of themagnet having been adjusted: (a) to attract and hold by the rim thereofall coins made of iron or steel or other ferromagnetic metals; and (b)to attract and retard the speed of movement of coins made of nickel orother paramagnetic metal; wherein said pivotally mounted cradle dividessuch chute into three chutes for conveying and testing for genuinenesscoins of said three different denominations; wherein said pivotallymounted cradle is adapted to be engaged by a coin, and wherein a coinhaving said predetermined size and weight is adapted to pivot the cradleand to be automatically discharged down one said predetermined coinchute; wherein coins not having said first predetermined size and weightare adapted to engage said second pivotally mounted cradle, wherein acoin having said second predetermined size and weight is adapted topivot the cradle and to be automatically discharged down said secondpredetemiined coin chute; wherein coins not having said secondpredetermined size and weight but having a third predetermined minimumand maximum size are adapted to engage a counter-weighted pivotallymounted gate; and further wherein coins having a first predetenninedminimum momentum pivotally open the gate and are automaticallydischarged to a third predetermined coin chute, and wherein coins havingless than said first predetermined momentum but more than said secondpredetermined momentum are deflected to a fourth predetermined coinchute.

15. [n coin-handling devices, the improvement comprising: magneticsensing means comprising a magnet, and a slide face, physically andmagnetically coupled to said magnet and located in the path the coinfollows to ensure physical face-toface contact with the coin and furtherincluding means selectively to vary the magnetic attractive force ofsaid portion projecting into the path, said means comprising a casing,formed of non-magnetic or non-magnetizable material, a magnetic fluxadjusting means mounted within said casing, said magnet being relativelyslidably concentrically disposed within said ma etic flux ad'ustingmeans.

6. The comandling device of claim 15 wherein a com 15 caused to move andbe guided along a selected path inclined downwardly, including a cradlelocated in said path to intercept the coin during movement along saidpath, said cradle being pivotally mounted and in one position receivingthe coin and by the weight of the coin received therein to be pivoted toanother position to discharge the coin therefrom, said cradle having onearm consisting of magnetic material or magnetizable material with meansto magnetize the same and means associated therewith selectively to varythe magnetic flux in said one arm.

17. A coin-handling device as defined in claim 16 wherein the coins areguided and roll edgewise along downwardly inclined chutes.

1. In a coin-sorting apparatus wherein a coin is caused to move down achute defined by an inclined runway and a pair of substantially parallelplates, the improvement comprising: a magnet positioned in the chute; aslide face physically and magnetically coupled to said magnet, andprojecting into said chute so that a coin moving in the chute is indirect, sliding, face-to-face contact therewith; a magnetic fluxadjusting means directly contacting, and magnetically coupled to, saidmagnet; and a casing, formed of non-magnetic or non-magnetizablematerial, physically uniting said magnet, said slide face and saidmagnetic flux adjusting means and serving to secure the same to one ofsaid plates; the strength of the magnet having been adjusted by saidmagnetic flux adjusting means in the following manner: (a) to attractand hold all coins made of iron or steel or other ferromagnetic metalsand those coins made of nickel or other paramagnetic metal having asmooth face; and (b) to attract and retard the speed of movement ofcoins made of nickel or other paramagnetic metal and having an imprintedface.
 2. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the casing issecured to said slide face, wherein said magnetic flux adjusting meansis threadedly secured, within said casing, and wherein said magnet isrelatively slidably concentrically disposed within said magnetic fluxadjusting means, theReby holding the magnet and securing it adjacentsaid chute.
 3. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the casingis formed of brass or copper.
 4. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1wherein the slide face is formed of steel.
 5. The coin-sorting apparatusof claim 1 wherein the slide face is in direct contact with the pole ofa bar or rod magnet.
 6. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe magnetic flux controller is movable axially with respect to thecasing and with respect to the pole of a bar or rod magnet.
 7. Thecoin-sorting apparatus of claim 1 including such magnet means fortesting coins of two different denominations.
 8. The coin sortingapparatus of claim 1, including such magnet means for testing coins ofthree different denominations.
 9. The improved coin-sorting apparatus ofclaim 1 further including a cradle in the coin chute, the cradle beingpivotally mounted with respect to the coin chute and having one armthereof provided with a magnet, an extension of one pole of the magnetprojecting into the coin chute, the magnet including said magnetic fluxadjusting means, the strength of the magnet having been adjusted: (a) toattract and hold by the rim thereof all coins made of iron or steel orother ferromagnetic metals; and (b) to attract and retard the speed ofmovement of coins made of nickel or other paramagnetic metal.
 10. Theimproved coin-sorting apparatus of claim 9, including such magnet meansfor testing coins of two different denominations, said cradle dividingsaid chute into two chutes for conveying and testing for genuinenesscoins of said two different denominations.
 11. The coin-sortingapparatus of claim 9 wherein said cradle divides the chute into at leasttwo chutes for conveying and testing for genuineness coins of at leasttwo different denominations.
 12. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 9wherein said pivotally mounted cradle is adapted to be engaged by acoin, and wherein a coin having a predetermined size and weight isadapted to pivot the cradle and be automatically discharged down onepredetermined coin chute.
 13. The coin-sorting apparatus of claim 10wherein said pivotally mounted cradle is adapted to be engaged by acoin, wherein a coin having a predetermined size and weight is adaptedto pivot the cradle and to be automatically discharged down one saidpredetermined coin chute, and wherein coins not having saidpredetermined size and weight are adapted to engage a second pivotallymounted cradle, and wherein a coin having said second predetermined sizeand weight is adapted to pivot the cradle and to be automaticallydischarged down said second predetermined coin chute.
 14. Thecoin-sorting apparatus of claim 8, further including a cradle in thecoin chute, the cradle being pivotally mounted with respect to the coinchute and having one arm thereof provided with a magnet, an extension ofone pole of the magnet projecting into the coin chute, the magnetincluding said magnetic flux adjusting means, the strength of the magnethaving been adjusted: (a) to attract and hold by the rim thereof allcoins made of iron or steel or other ferromagnetic metals; and (b) toattract and retard the speed of movement of coins made of nickel orother paramagnetic metal; wherein said pivotally mounted cradle dividessuch chute into three chutes for conveying and testing for genuinenesscoins of said three different denominations; wherein said pivotallymounted cradle is adapted to be engaged by a coin, and wherein a coinhaving said predetermined size and weight is adapted to pivot the cradleand to be automatically discharged down one said predetermined coinchute; wherein coins not having said first predetermined size and weightare adapted to engage said second pivotally mounted cradle, wherein acoin having said second predetermined size and weight is adapted topivot the cradle and to be automatically discharged down said secondpredetermined coin chute; wherein coins Ot having said secondpredetermined size and weight but having a third predetermined minimumand maximum size are adapted to engage a counter-weighted pivotallymounted gate; and further wherein coins having a first predeterminedminimum momentum pivotally open the gate and are automaticallydischarged to a third predetermined coin chute, and wherein coins havingless than said first predetermined momentum but more than said secondpredetermined momentum are deflected to a fourth predetermined coinchute.
 15. In coin-handling devices, the improvement comprising:magnetic sensing means comprising a magnet, and a slide face, physicallyand magnetically coupled to said magnet and located in the path the coinfollows to ensure physical face-to-face contact with the coin andfurther including means selectively to vary the magnetic attractiveforce of said portion projecting into the path, said means comprising acasing, formed of non-magnetic or non-magnetizable material, a magneticflux adjusting means mounted within said casing, said magnet beingrelatively slidably concentrically disposed within said magnetic fluxadjusting means.
 16. The coin-handling device of claim 15 wherein a coinis caused to move and be guided along a selected path inclineddownwardly, including a cradle located in said path to intercept thecoin during movement along said path, said cradle being pivotallymounted and in one position receiving the coin and by the weight of thecoin received therein to be pivoted to another position to discharge thecoin therefrom, said cradle having one arm consisting of magneticmaterial or magnetizable material with means to magnetize the same andmeans associated therewith selectively to vary the magnetic flux in saidone arm.
 17. A coin-handling device as defined in claim 16 wherein thecoins are guided and roll edgewise along downwardly inclined chutes.